AECOM recognized for management of LACCD bond program

Los Angeles — The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Southern California Chapter named AECOM, the program manager for the Los Angeles Community College District’s (LACCD’s) bond construction program, the recipient of the 2015 Program Management Merit Award. 

The CMAA award program is designed to recognize and promote professionalism, innovation and excellence in the management of the construction process. Awards are given to the projects that best reflect this mission. The criteria for evaluating Program Management Merit Award nominations focused on the a variety of management efforts and project outcomes, including overall management, quality management, cost and schedule management, complexity, innovation and creativity, customer service and satisfaction, and safety results.

“We are very pleased that CMAA Southern California Chapter selected the AECOM program management team as the 2015 Program Management Merit Award recipient,” said Terri Mestas, program director for the construction program. “It recognizes the tremendous efforts of our entire team to bring enhanced accountability and efficiency to the program, and it’s a great way to start 2015.”

AECOM is the principal administrator for the bond program and has oversight over construction and renovation activities at all nine LACCD colleges. In less than 24 months, AECOM, under a new management structure, created the Program Management Office (PMO), balancing the needs of a centralized management system while continuing to respect the history, culture and needs of each college.

Through its comprehensive and methodical approach, the AECOM PMO has been able to achieve over $50 million in cost savings and program efficiencies. Each college now has a strategic execution plan that lays out the schedule for completing its projects on time and on budget.

“We’re taking this program from good to world class,” said Mestas.  “This award is an acknowledgement of the team approach that we have instituted as we build schools for tomorrow’s leaders.”